Nearly half a year had passed since the campaign against the Radiant Temple and the Frost Snow Empire concluded.
During this time, the people of Locke's territory had come to accept that their lands were returning under the Frost Snow Empire's rule.
Those unwilling to accept it had relocated entirely to the Radiant Temple's sphere of influence.
Locke did not stop them.
With the war over, reconstruction was necessary, and Locke's territory needed more citizens to participate in the rebuilding.
However, Locke never assumed he could make choices for others.
In his view, for the common people, there was little difference between the Radiant Temple and the Frost Snow Empire.
The fate of ordinary citizens depended mostly on the nobles within their territory.
Fewer oppressions from nobles meant a slightly better life; more oppression meant a harsher life.
Both the Radiant Temple and the Frost Snow Empire had arrogant, tyrannical nobles who treated commoners as non-entities, making life miserable for those under their rule.
In some ways, Locke even felt the Radiant Temple was slightly better than the Frost and Snow Empire.
Within the Radiant Temple, seeking women with pure souls was done openly.
The higher-ups would proclaim within their territories that women who could make the jewel glow were angels under the Radiant Lord God. These women, however, would fall in battle serving the God and be reborn in the human world.
Through rituals, these women with pure souls would be returned to the Radiant God Realm.
Couples responsible for guiding these angels back to the divine plane received generous rewards from the Radiant Temple.
By contrast, in the Frost Snow Empire, higher-ups, wanting to keep their collection of pure-souled women secret, usually destroyed all relatives and friends of the woman if discovered.
From Locke's perspective, whether it was the Radiant Temple or the Frost Snow Empire's hidden collection of pure-souled women, the people responsible were far from good.
But with Locke's current power, such matters were beyond his control.
What he could do was ensure the rights and welfare of the people within his own territory.
Locke and Fieobo descended slowly from the sky into the lordly manor. Since both had flown, their speed far surpassed that of the soldiers stationed at the original camp.
Inside the manor, besides a few patrolling guards, some servants were tidying the courtyard.
Locke and Fieobo's flight was noticed not only by the manor's inhabitants but also by the other four captains.
Although they did not see the visitors clearly, it was obvious even without thinking: the one flying into the prefecture city at this time could only be Lord Locke, the Grand Duke.
Immediately, the four captains abandoned their current duties and rushed to pay respects to Locke at the manor.
"Greetings, Grand Duke."
In the hall, all four captains bowed respectfully.
"Mm, I've already seen your work. The construction of Locke City has been done well—I am satisfied."
Sitting at the highest point in the hall, Locke gave a slight nod, acknowledging the abilities of the five Tsunami Legion captains.
"Lord Grand Duke, your praise is too kind. We were only doing our duty."
"Don't waste words. Whether it's your duty or not, I said that if you complete the task, I would grant you titles."
"Now that the task is done well, I can confer upon each of you the rank of Viscount of Locke's territory."
"Since Gasco hasn't returned yet, discuss amongst yourselves whether you wish to become nobles within Locke City or nobles within Locke's territory."
"Once decided, this choice cannot be changed."
There was a significant difference between a city noble and a territorial noble.
It was similar to the distinction between nobles inside the imperial capital and those outside it.
If the five captains chose to be city nobles, they would have the opportunity to compete for the two vacant countships in Locke's territory, gaining greater power.
Many decisions regarding Locke's territory depended on the city nobles.
Thus, city nobles held absolute authority within Locke's territory.
If they chose to be territorial nobles, they would receive a fief and become rulers within that land.
Of course, even as rulers of their fiefs, they were subject to Locke's oversight, paying substantial annual taxes. Their rank would also be slightly lower than city nobles of the same title.
This "lower" status mainly meant city nobles were closer to the lord and enjoyed his trust.
In this world dominated by strength, depending on the powerful and leveraging their authority was also a form of power.
After all, if conflict arose, the lord's side was clear.
Offending a lord could result in edicts and taxes that would financially cripple a fief-holding noble.
After the four captains departed, Locke took Fieobo to the manor's training hall to continue cultivation.
He had never forgotten that strength was the foundation of his existence in this world.
The title of Grand Duke of Locke's territory was a compromise with Celes, and also a way to fulfill his parents' noble aspirations, letting them live out their later years in peace.
Three months later, upon receiving news from Locke, Cole moved into Locke City with his parents and the entire Ross Trading Company. With Locke's support, they became the true administrators of the city.
Of the five Tsunami Legion captains, two chose to become city viscounts, assisting Cole in governing Locke's territory.
The other three chose to become viscounts of fiefs, selecting contiguous land within Locke's territory as their domain.
Thus, the two city viscounts were supported by the three territorial viscounts, while the city viscounts would, in turn, use their authority to grant the fief viscounts conveniences and benefits.
This was roughly how nobles in the Wakanda Plane survived.
For Sanctuary-stage cultivators, time had little meaning.
Occasionally using soul power to check on family, Cole managed Locke's territory efficiently. Locke no longer left the training hall, immersing himself entirely in contemplating profound laws and researching souls.
(End of Chapter)
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T/N: Sorry about yesterday, I wasn't feeling well after work so I just slept off after posting the Patreon chapters.